Ventilation control system



Sept. 2, 1969 J. v. BURGESS, JR 3,464,756

VENTILATION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Nov. 15, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1NVENTOR.

Amevs Jams-3V. BURGESS 3R.

P 1969 J. v. BURGESS, JR 3,464,756

VENTILATION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed NOV. 15, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. JAMESV. BURG ESQAE.

United States Patent 3,464,756 VENTILATION CONTROL SYSTEM James V.Burgess, Jr., Box 385, Madison, W. Va.

Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,199 Int. Cl. E21f 1/00, 3/00; E21c29/22 US. Cl. 299-19 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background ofthe invention In the present system of ventilating underground mines,one of the problems not adequately solved is the presence of dangerousgases and dust immediately adjacent the working face of the mine. Thepresent ventilating systems do not have the ability of diverting theclean air from the end of the line curtain assemblies to the workingface which is continuously advancing as the mining machinery removes thematerial being mined. It is readily apparent to those knowledgable inthe art of mining, that with the modern, fast and continuous miningoperations, it has become of paramount importance to provide proper aircirculation within the working areas of the mine to insure properventilation.

It is an object of the present invention to produce a ventilationcontrol system for use in continuous mining operations which overcomesthe aforesaid problems and provides an elficient and economicallyfeasible means for achieving air circulation control immediatelyadjacent the cutting bits of a mining machine to effectively removedangerous gases and dust content therein.

Summary The above objectives of the invention may be typically achievedby a mine ventilation control system for use in a mine working with anassociated mining machine comprising an extended surface web of flexiblesubstantially gas impervious sheet material having a leading and atrailing edge portion; a roller mechanism attached to the trailing edgeof the sheet material; means for supporting the roller mechanism in avertical position within the mine working; and coupling means forconnecting the leading edge of the sheet material to the mining machinewhereby movement of the machine will effectively cause the sheetmaterial to be pair of? from the roll mechanism.

Brief description of the drawings Other objects and advantages of theinvention will become readily apparent to one skilled in the art fromreading the following detailed description of an embodiment of theinvention when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention employed ina mine working with a continuous mining machine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the invention showing theflexible sheet material in an almost entirely rolled condition; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the inventiontaken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

Patented Sept. 2, 1969 Referring to the drawings wherein like referencenumerals designate similar parts throughout, there is illustrated anunderground mine working having a floor 10, a roof 12, and a workingface 14. A mining machine 16 having ground engaging track laying treads18 to provide movement of the machine and an array of cutting bits 20mounted for rotation at the extended ends of a pair of outwardlyextending booms 22 is employed to continuously move toward the materialbeing mined. As the machine 16 advances toward the working face 14 ofthe mine, the bits 20 are rotated and caused to cut-away at the materialbeing mined, such as coal for example. The bits 20 tend to break thecoal from the vein which then drops toward the mine floor where it istypically collected on a moving conveyor 24. The conveyor 24 thentransports the coal to a position in the rear of the machine 16 where itmay be loaded in shuttle cars and eventually transported out of themine.

FIGURE 1 clearly illustrates a line curtain 30 which has been previouslyinstalled in the mine to aid in the directing of a current ofventilating air through the mine. Typically, the fresh air is directedtoward the working face 14 along one side of the curtain 30; while thegas and dust laden air is caused to travel in an opposite directionalong the opposite face of the curtain 30. These line curtains areinstalled in the mine after the mining machinery has advanced somepredetermined distance. However, it will be appreciated that it isextremely difficult and time consuming to stop the mining machineryevery so many feet of travel to install an additional length of linecurtain.

To assure a substantially continuous ventilation control systemeffective to remove dangerous gases and dust in the region of theworking face 14 of the mine, there is provided a web of flexiblesubstantially gas impervious sheet material 32 having a leading edgeportion 34 and a trailing edge portion 36. The leading edge portion 34of the sheet material 32 may be reinforced in any of the well knownmanners, such as for example, being folded back upon itself and stitchedto form a reinforcing hem. Attached to the leading edge portion 34 are aplurality of spaced eyes 38 which are employed to be connected to acooperating hook or hooks 40 aflixed to the mining machinery 16.

The trailing edge portion of the sheet material 32 is connected to atubular spool or drum 42 by a clamping member 43. The tubular spool 42is mounted in substantially coaxially relation about a center tube 44which has its opposite ends fixedly secured to the outer ends of arms 46and 48 of brackets 50 and 52. The outer tubular spool 42 and the centertube 44 are interconnected by a spiral spring means 54. It will beappreciated that since the center tube 44 is fixed, the outer tube 42can be rotated relative thereto as the sheet material 32 is caused to bepaid olf therefrom. As the relative rotational movement occurs betweenthe outer tube 42 and the center tube 44, the spring means 54 is placedunder tension or loaded tending at all time to rewind the sheet material32.

The brackets 50 and 52 are rotatably mounted on a vertically disposedsupporting column which includes a lower tubular member 56 and acooperating upper tubular member 58 which is adapted to slidetherewithin. The total over-all length of the supporting column may bevaried by causing the tubular member 58 to slide within the tubularmember 56. The desired length may be fixed by aligning one of the holes60 of the tubular member 58 with a hole in the upper portion of thetubular member 56 so that a pin 62 may be inserted therein to militateagainst any relative movement therebetween.

The uppermost end of the upper member 58 is provided with a pad 64 whichis adapted to be placed into snug contact with the roof 12 of the mine;while the lowermost end of the tubular member 56 is provided withspike-like extension 66 which is adapted to be inserted into the floorit) of the mine. Clearly, the pin 62 is removed when the supportingcolumn is to be installed in a mine; tubular members 56 and 58 aretypically extended in such a fashion that the pad 64 snugly contacts theroof 12 and the spike-like extension 66 penetrates a portion of thefloor and the pin 62 is reinserted. In this manner, the roll of webmaterial 32 is adequately supported in a vertical position within theinterior of the mine working.

Projecting radially outwardly of the brackets 54] and 52 are arms 68 and70, respectively, which support the inner most end of a stationary linecurtain 30 as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

Since the brackets 50 and 52 are free floating, the arms 46 and 48 maybe moved forward when the drum mechanism 42 is positioned in front ofthe point of suspension and may be moved rearwardly when the drummechanism 42 is positioned in the rear of the point of suspension.

In the normal mining operations, the line curtain 30 is typicallyterminated approximately six feet from the face of the mine. The miningmachinery 16 will then progress into the mine toward the face 14 to apoint which is not beyond the overhead roof supports which are typicallyinstalled as the mining operation progresses. As the mining machineryprogresses in toward the working face, the web of sheet material 32which is hooked to the mining machinery 16 will progress therewith. Asthe mining operation advances into what is referred to as a box cut or afull face, the web of sheet material 32 advances along with the miningmachinery 16 and automatically effects an extension of the line curtain30.

While the sheet material 32 may be formed of a large number of plasticsheet film materials, whether made of polymerizates, condensationproducts, or cellulosic derivatives, it is considered preferable to usesheets of fireresistant or fire-retardant materials, such as thosecontaining chlorine in their composition, for example, vinyl chloridepolymers and copolymers, polyvinylidene chloride, vinylchloride-vinylidene chloride copolymers and the like, or thosecontaining fire-retardant; components, such as tricresyl phosphate orchlorinated compounds, because of the greater safety provided by suchmaterials.

The diameter of the roll containing the sheet material 7 32 will varyaccording to the desired length of line curtain and the size of thesuspension mechanism employed. Of course, the width or height of thesheet material 32 will depend primarily on the height of the mine, whichin coal mining operations is a function of the height of the coal bed orvein.

It will be appreciated that the manner of connecting the leading edgeportion 34 of the sheet material 32 to the mining machinery 16 may varyconsiderably. The manner in which the connection is made and the exactpoint of connection on the machinery will be determined by the specifictype of mining machinery being used.

While the illustrated embodiment of the invention discloses the rollcontaining the sheet material 32 as being mounted in a stationaryposition within the mine and the leading edge 34 being attached to themining machine 16, it will be appreciated that the structure could bereversed. The roller mechanism for the sheet material could be mountedon the mining machine 16 and the leading edge 34 could be anchoredadjacent the innermost edge of the curtain 30.

After the particular face 14 has become idle and the mining operationhas relocated, it may be necessary to bleed off gaseous emmissions, suchas methane gas, and this may be accomplished by fixedly supporting theleading edge portion 34 of the sheet material 32 a few feet from theworking in a somewhat permanent disposition thereof to achieve thedesired ventilating air flow through the mine.

What I claim is:

1. A mine ventilation control system for use in a mine working with anassociated mining machine comprising:

an extended surface web of flexible substantially gas impervious sheetmaterial having a leading and a trailing edge portion;

a roller mechanism attached to the trailing edge of said sheet material;

means for supporting said roller mechanism and said sheet material in avertical position within the mine working;

coupling means for connecting the leading edge of said sheet material tothe mining machine whereby movement of the machine will effectivelycause said sheet material to be paid off from said roller mechanism; and

spring means associated with said roller mechanism normally maintainingsaid web of sheet material rolled on said roller mechanism.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supportingsaid roller mechanism consists of a telescoping columnar member adaptedto extend between the floor and the roof of a mine.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein said means for supportingsaid roller mechanism includes an extensible columnar member extendingbetween the roof and the floor of the mine working.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said means for supportingsaid roller mechanism includes a pair of spaced brackets for supportingsaid roller mechanism.

5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said brackets are rotatablymounted on said columnar member.

6. A mine ventilation control system for use in a mine working with anassociated mobile mining machine comprising:

an extended surface web of flexible substantially gas impervious sheetmaterial having a first and a second edge portion;

roller means including spring means normally containing said sheetmaterial in rolled condition thereon; means for maintaining one of theedge of said sheet material at a fixed position in the mine working; andmeans for coupling the other of the edge portions of said sheet materialto the mobile mining machine whereby said sheet material is disposed ina vertical plane and forward movement of the machine will effectivelycause said sheet material to be paid off from said roller means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,131,852 3/1915 Morgan 299-12 X2,996,954 8/1961 Schroder 24 X ERNEST R. PURSER, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

